ND library tries to keep teens interested: ‘We can be trendy’

Staffers at public libraries said it is not easy to convince teens to keep coming back to their branches when they have digital tools and other entertainment options at their disposal but a local spot in North Dakota reflects a renewed push to stay engaged with adolescents.

This October is recognized as “TeenTober,” a nationwide celebration to promote innovative ways libraries are connecting with middle and high school age kids.

Lexi Whitehorn, director of the Mayville Public Library, said programming often centers around reading comprehension for young kids. She argued it is important but added young adults need a place to lean on trusted resources to help decipher all the new information they are absorbing.

“A lot of our focus and education should be more on that informational literacy,” Whitehorn contended. “So that they can understand the world around them.”

She argued it helps make them good citizens as they transition to adulthood.

Mayville Public Library has enhanced programming they hope is more appealing to this age group, such as movie nights. Whitehorn pointed out a “no pressure” style of promotion gets them in the building and hopefully reignites their passion for reading by being surrounded by books.

Whitehorn hopes parents and teachers will keep bringing young kids into libraries, and older populations will see their value for services such as tax preparation. She acknowledged they also have to hold on to a prime age group which naturally disengages at a certain point. Reminding them of their importance can help justify future public funding at a time when libraries are swept up in culture war debates.

“We have more than doubled our visitation from the previous year,” Whitehorn reported. “Even though everybody has access to all kinds of information at their fingertips, we’re still needed.”

Whitehorn added her team has even gone in on the “Labubu” craze by placing the in-demand plush figures, popular among teens, on their shelves.

“Things like that help teens realize that libraries aren’t a thing just for old people,” Whitehorn emphasized. “We can be trendy.”